The Necessity of Employing SPECT/CT with 99mTc-Pertechnetate for Diagnosing Autonomous Thyroid Adenoma in a Specific Patient

Purpose: Demonstrate a clinical observation where eight diagnostic techniques were required to establish the diagnosis of compensated autonomous thyroid adenoma. Material and methods: Eight diagnostic methods were utilized to establish the diagnosis: ultrasound examination (US), measurement of blood concentrations of pituitary thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), free T4 and T3, antibodies to thyroperoxidase (TPOAb), antibodies to thyroglobulin (TgAb), planar scintigraphy (PS) with 99mTc-pertechnetate, and single-photon emission computed tomography combined with X-ray computed tomography (SPECT/CT). Results: The application of eight diagnostic techniques highlighted two main methods: US and SPECT/CT, which enable the visualization of nodules, determination of their autonomy, and assessment of functional autonomy compensation or decompensation. Planar scintigraphy failed to detect nodules due to its lower resolution compared to SPECT/CT. Conclusion: It has been shown that in diagnosing compensated autonomous thyroid adenoma using US, PS, SPECT/CT, and measurements of TSH, T3, T4, TPOAb, and TgAb levels, the key technologies are US and SPECT/CT. These methods allow for the visualization of nodules and the assessment of their autonomy and functional state. Planar scintigraphy was insufficient for nodule detection due to its limited resolution compared to SPECT/CT.